Sacramento mayor makes pitch to keep Kings from moving

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson arrived in Houston on Friday hoping to make his case that his city should keep its team, citing Sacramento’s approved arena deal that he called ‘a competitive advantage” over Seattle and long-time support of the Kings. He said he expects to have an ownership group in place by the end of the month as necessary to make a presentation at the March 18 board of governors meeting.

“We’re reminding them how great the Sacramento market has been,” Johnson said. “It’s very important to remind them that we’re a top 20 TV market, and set the record straight that we have 100 percent of this market share and to remind them out of 27 seasons, 19 were sold out when we made the playoffs in 10 of the 19 seasons. You put that up against any other team in any other market, we delivered. Certain people need to be reminded of that to let them know that the city has essentially approved a significant investment to go to a brand new arena.

“I had an owner recently say, “I didn’t realize you guys were that far ahead.’ Yes we are. We’re ready to go. I think they’re waiting for us to surface and present the whales, the equity group. That’s the last step.”

The Maloof family that owns the Kings reached an agreement in January to sell the controlling interest in the franchise to a Seattle group intent on moving it in time for next season.